EEOC Sues Harley Dealership for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

 Glenview Dealership Created Sexually Hostile Work Environment for Business Manager And Then Fired Her for Complaining, Federal Agency Charges

CHICAGO - The owners/operators of Chicago Harley Davidson, in Glenview, Ill., violated federal law by fostering a sexually hostile work environment for a female business manager and then firing her for complaining about it, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today. The respondent companies are DP Fox Ventures, LLC, Fox Glenview, LLC, and Fox Illinois Staffing, LLC.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, the business manager was subjected to constant harassment from other managers and co-workers, including repeated comments about her body; requests to wear more revealing clothing; sexual comments; unwelcome sexual propositions; and receiving sexual images and videos. When the business manager complained to the company, the company fired her.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII, which prohibits employers from creating a sexually hostile work environment and prohibits retaliation against employees who complain about harassment. The EEOC filed suit, EEOC v. DP Fox Ventures, LLC; Fox Glenview, LLC; and Fox Illinois Staffing, LLC, Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-1436, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

"The EEOC takes claims of sexual harassment very seriously and the agency is dedicated to ensuring that women in the workplace are protected from unwelcome sexual comments and propositions at work," said Julianne Bowman, the EEOC's district director in Chicago.

Gregory Gochanour, the EEOC's regional attorney in Chicago, added, "The EEOC will remain vigilant in enforcing the laws prohibiting sexual harassment. We see cases like this too often where employers retaliate against the victim of discrimination rather than taking steps to stop the misconduct."

The EEOC's Chicago District Office is responsible for processing charges of discrimin­ation, adminis­trative enforcement and the conduct of agency litigation in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota, with Area Offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employ­ment discrimin­ation. More information is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.